Astellas and Pantherna Enter into Technology Evaluation Agreement for Research of mRNA-based Regenerative Medicine
TOKYO and Hennigsdorf, Germany, November 15, 2021 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) and Pantherna Therapeutics GmbH (CEO: Klaus Giese, Ph.D., “Pantherna”) today announced that the companies have entered into a technology evaluation agreement for the research of mRNA-based regenerative medicine.
Pantherna has a technology platform consisting of unique mRNA molecules (PTXmRNAs) for enhancing the efficiency of mRNA actions in the body, and lipid nanoparticles (PTXΔLNPs) for efficiently delivering mRNA.
Under this agreement, Pantherna's state-of-the-art mRNA platform and Astellas' high drug discovery capabilities will be utilized to promote research on the creation of new programs in the field of regenerative medicine and their application to treatment.
Astellas will be in charge of technology evaluation research aimed at providing drug discovery ideas and creating a therapeutic modality, and Pantherna will provide technical information and prepare candidate compounds for the technology evaluation research.
“We are excited and honored to collaborate with Astellas,” said Pantherna’s Chief Executive Officer, Klaus Giese, Ph.D. “Astellas is an excellent partner for leveraging the unique aspects of our proprietary therapeutic mRNA technology, and this applied research is very important for the validation and broader application of the Pantherna mRNA technology in indications with high medical need.”
"Astellas is engaged in the development of novel therapies using a new modality / technology based on the Focus Area approach strategy,” said Taiji Sawamoto, Executive Vice President, Applied Research & Operations, at Astellas. “Pantherna is a leader in this area with a unique technology platform for mRNA. Through this collaboration, we will create an innovative regenerative medicine program with mRNA as a therapeutic modality, and we expect that we will be able to expand the treatment options of various diseases for which there has been no cure thus far."
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.
About Pantherna
Pantherna Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapeutics for vascular diseases. Pantherna’s innovative technology platform is based on advanced nanoparticles for the delivery and expression of therapeutic mRNA drugs in the endothelium. Pantherna is based in Hennigsdorf, Brandenburg (Innovationsforum) close to Berlin, Germany. For more information, please visit our website at https://pantherna-therapeutics.com/.
Cautionary Notes (Astellas)
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